Bomb carrier



Nov. 7, 1944. H, A, QMBS'QN 2,362,414

BOMB CARRIER Filed Feb. 3, 1942 Patented Nov. 7, 1944 UNITED STATES OFFICE- BOMB CARRIER Application February 3, 1942, Serial No. 429,367

3 Claims.

The invention covered herein may be manufactured by or for the Government of the United States of America, for governmental purposes, without payment of any royalty thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in a bomb carrier and distributor.

The object is to provide a carrier loaded with 'a'plurality of bombs, to be distributed or discharged from the carrier at different elevations with increased distance of discharge as the speed of rotation of the falling carrier increases. This results in Wider distribution to different areas resulting from said increased falling and rotative speed of said falling carrier.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates merely by way of example, suitable means for effecting my invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the device in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

'Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation also on an enlarged scale, showing modifications of the cone.

Similar numerals refer -to similar parts throughout the several views.

The invention is especially adapted for the discharge and wide distribution of incendiary or fire bombs.

In the preferred form illustrated in the drawmg, I provide an upwardly tapered tubular formation ID, to the top of which is rigidly secured an impeller or fan I I, and at the bottom of said tubular formation is secured an annular formation or flange l2, having a substantial weight which tends to maintain the axis of the formation I0 in vertical position. This flange or ring 12 also serves to support the bombs l3 arranged in layers or courses around the tubular formation Ill. The passage-way, which tapers upwardly within the formation I0, from the flaring bottom to the restricted top, and which is open at both ends, also contributes to maintaining the vertical axis of the tubular formation l0 when falling.

Around the tapered formation It! the bombs l3 are arranged in courses: the lowest course resting upon the flange or ring l2, each succeeding course resting upon the preceding course until the tubular formation or carrier I0 is loaded, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

In each course the bombs may be arranged in close formation, as shown in Fig. 3, or in any desired spaced formation.

To each bomb is secured a wire or cord M, of sufiicient length to be wound around the tubular carrier l0, two or more times, normally to hold each bomb 3, in position as indicated in said Figs. 1, 3, and 4. Each wire or cord I4 is secured to the discharging mechanism of a bomb 43. For instance, the wire I4 may pass through a central inflammable tube 2| passing through the bomb l3 and be attached to a plug 22. The plug 22 is detachably secured to a disk 25 which is larger than the opening in the tube 2|, which disk normally maintains the plug 22 stationary in the tube 2| adjacent its end but from which it is detached by centrifugal force transmitted through the cord or wire l4, during rotation of the carrier when falling, whereupon the plug 22 is drawn through the tube 2| substantially from end to end. The frictional engagement of the plug 22 with a coating of match composition or ignition material (not shown) on the interior of the tube 2! causes ignition of the tube 2|, which is followed by ignition of the flare or explosive material 23 packed between the tube 2| and the casing 24 Of the bomb, all as fully described in my copending application Serial No. 429,368, filed February 3, 1942, which issued July 6, 1943 as Patent No. 2,323,426.

The blades l5 of the impeller l are so directed as to cause the rotation of the carrier in the desired direction, as the carrier falls through the air, while the securing wires or cords M are wound about the tubular body of carrier ID in the opposite direction, that is to say, if the carrier is rotated by the impeller in clockwise direction, the windings of the cord or wire are in contraclookwise direction, so that the rotation of the carrier tends to unwind the wire or cord which normally holds the bombs in initial position.

The cords or wires l4 securing said bombs are so arranged as to permit the release of one course only at a time. This restraining and releasing action is secured in the following way.

The restraining wires of the topmost course are free to unwind to permit the discharge of the bomb by centrifugal action. The wires IA of the topmost course are so wound as to secure looped portions ll of the wires of the next lower course to prevent the unwinding of the wires of said next lower course until the wires of the said uppermost course have been entirely unwound; and the next lower course becomes the topmost, whereupon the said operation is re- As the speed of rotation of the carrier, is con- 1 stantly increasing, due to the gravitational laws. the centrifugal force is correspondingly increased, to effect varying distances of flight of the bombs from the difierent courses.

The number of windingsofftlie retaining; wires; 15?

or cords l4, and the pitch of the impeller blades: l5 may be so adjusted or coordinated as to securethe time of discharge of each courseof bombs; and also the distance thrown by the centrifugaliorcez exerted.

Fig; 5 shows a modification" of the come; in which the apex I8 is closed; and slotsorports I'Sl' are provided below but near" the apex; for directing the air,which is compressed, due'to the tapered form of. the passage through the cone; to the blades of the fanor'impell'en.

In. 6'. isshown the. cone. having its. outer surface. providedwith corrugations. or. steps 20 forfacilitating the loading oflthe. bombs.

While, asrabove stated-the. invention is especially. adapted for. carrying. and distributing. in.- cendiary orfirebombs, itwillf berunderstood that the invention is. equally,- adapted. for peace time uses,.such as carryinggand distributing,containers of 1 chemicals .or substances other: than. explosives or incendiarysubstances, ,for. example. fordusting of crops. and-other: similar. purposes.

In the use of the Word-bomb? in-the specifica tionaand rclaims it-sis intended tot=cover. such con,

tainers';

combination with a plurality of bombs, of a bomb supporting carrier having a fan secured thereto, to cause the rotation of the carrier while falling from a height, said bombs being arranged in courses, one course upon another, a cord secured to each bomb-and wound around the carrier in direction opposite to that of the carriers rotation, the; cords ofeach course so woundas to secure portions of the cords ofa lbweradjacent course from unwinding until the cords of an upper coarse I are unwound.

2. In a bomb carrier, a hollow body with a fan secured to one end and a weighted flange secured to itsbther; end Saidfan being adapted to cause rotationiof saicl hollow body in one direction during: fallingandra: plurality of bombs arranged in courses on said flange, and cords wrapped about th'e liod'y in a direction opposite the direction of 0 rotation and eachsecured at one end to the discharging means of one of said bombs and at the other'errd tosaidhollowbodyt 3 Ih a" bomb carrier; a' hollow body having a trusts-conical" portion with a far: secured at": its

ralit'y. oi cords wrappedj about said' body in a direction opposite the-direction 'of" rotation,l.ea'ch of. said. cords.-beingfsecurediat' one endlto the discl'iarging, means: of. one. of said'. bombs andl at the other end to said hollow. body, whereby said cords. will progressively, unwrapduring falling of said body and consecutively;v discharge said lbombs as they travel outwardly. to the-ends of-said cords under thecentrifugal force caused by rotation of said body.

SIMPSON 

